Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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202. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the public private partnerships that have commenced under the 2012 stimulus plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20025/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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On the 17th of July 2012, the Government announced its plans for a stimulus investment in public infrastructure projects in Ireland. This included about €1.5 billion to fund the proposed new Public Private Partnerships (PPP) programme. Since then, two PPPs (Schools Bundle 3 and the N11/Newlands Cross roads PPP) which had been included in previous programmes reached financial close in November 2011 and April 2012 respectively and are in construction. The successful closure of both these projects, which had been delayed due to the global credit crunch, were key enablers in re-opening the Irish PPP market.

The first project in the new PPP programme has also been successfully closed. Last month, on 30 April, myself  and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport signed a contract with a consortium to construct the M17/M18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme which will create up to 450 jobs, boost local economies in the west and ease congestion. This is the largest of the projects in the programme and work has commenced on the delivery phase of the project with completion targeted for end 2017.

The procurement process is underway on the remainder of the programme with the projects expected to reach financial close during 2014 and 2015. The targeted delivery dates for the projects range from Q2 2016 (the Schools Bundle 4 PPP) through to 2018 (roads PPPs).